Family Planning

We are here to help you meet your sexual and reproductive health goals. We offer pap smears, breast exams, a range of birth control methods, and vasectomy counseling to those who qualify.

Please note:

  • If you have had any procedure that prevents you from becoming pregnant (like a tubal ligation, hysterectomy, ablation, or Essure procedure), are postmenopausal, or are over the age of 52 you will not qualify for Family Planning services. Consult your primary care provider or OBGYN if you are due for a pap smear or breast exam--If you are between the ages of 50 and 64 and need a pap smear, breast exam, and/or mammogram you may be eligible for our Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Program 
  • Please visit our Adult Health webpage for information about receiving STI testing: Adult Health | Gaston County, NC (gastongov.com)
  • We are not a primary care provider. Our clinic specializes in birth control and sexually transmitted infection management. If you are in need of other types of care, please consult our County Resource List


Birth Control Methods

We offer many different birth control methods and pre-procedure vasectomy counseling.

If you have had unprotected sex recently and would like emergency contraception, please let the scheduler know because you must be seen within 5 days.

Birth Control Methods

For more information about the birth control methods, visit: https://www.bedsider.org/birth-control


Pap Smears

Pap smears screen for cervical cancer by looking for abnormal cell changes and certain infections. Routine pap smear testing starts at age 21. How often you should have a pap smear depends on your age and prior medical history. Talk to your healthcare provider or visit Cervical Cancer Screening | ACOG to learn more.

Breast Exams

We recommend checking your breasts for lumps, tender spots, and discharge every month. If you have a period, perform your breast exam 7 to 10 days after your period. If you do not have a period, try to check your breasts around the same time every month. Knowing what your breast tissue feels like normally can help you to notice changes sooner. We also recommend feeling into your armpits and above your collarbone during each self-exam. Other ways to reduce your risk for breast cancer include being physically active, staying at a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol intake. It is also important to know your family history of breast cancer and discuss it with your healthcare provider.



Family Planning Medicaid

The Be Smart Program provides:

  • Family planning initial and yearly exams
  • Follow-up family planning visits
  • Birth control and family planning counseling
  • Pregnancy tests
  • Some types of birth control methods like the pill, the shot and IUDs, as well as vasectomies and tubal ligations
  • Family Planning Lab tests
  • HIV testing
  • Limited screening for sexually transmitted infections
  • Pap tests
  • Help on when or if to have a baby
  • Referrals

 


Men and Women can apply who are:

  • U.S. citizens or documented immigrants
  • North Carolina residents who: are not pregnant, are not incarcerated; or have an income at or below 195% of the federal poverty level
  • Not currently on Medicaid
  • Other requirements may apply

 

For more information about the Be Smart Program call 704-853-5009.

Vasectomy Counseling

A vasectomy is a permanent form of birth control for men that do not want any more children. The procedure consists of cutting the tubes that transport sperm in the scrotum. It is a simple and safe procedure that can be done in a doctor’s office.

We are unable to perform vasectomies at the Health Department, however we can complete pre-procedure counseling and referral through the Regional Vasectomy Program. This program is available for men ages 21 and older that are uninsured. Vasectomies are billed on a sliding scale based on income and may be free for those who qualify. To learn more about the program visit, https://www.guilfordcountync.gov/our-county/human-services/health-department/adult-health-services/regional-vasectomy-program. Before making a final decision, patients are provided extensive education and counseling to help them understand the permanent nature of sterilization, and the different methods of birth control offered through the Health Department.

For an appointment, call 704-853-5009.

If you have Family Planning Medicaid, we can see you for a yearly visit and refer you to a urologist for the vasectomy.

If you have private insurance or Medicaid and are interested in getting a vasectomy, you should reach out to your primary care doctor or urologist.